Design Process - A Secfix Guide To Boosting User Experience

Design process is extremely important to creating a successful and well-loved product. Knowing what to consider during the design process can help you drastically improve your user experience - and it doesn't have to be difficult!

The steps for boosting user experience

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Step one: Start by building a product

Building a product is the first step in designing a great user experience. By the product here I mean not a ready-to-use solution, it can be anything scrappy: Figma file, click dummy or even a paper prototype. Don't wait for things to get perfect before showing it to someone. It can be a huge disappointment when you realize that hours of hard work were just to build something people can't use.

But what makes a product great? In order to answer this question, we must first understand what users want and need. Only then can we begin to create a product that meets their expectations.

User research is essential for uncovering user needs and wants. This can be done through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other methods. At Secfix we love to keep a short distance to our users, that's why we usually choose one-on-one chats. Once you have a good understanding of your users, you can start to build a product that they'll love. Don't forget to interview experts if your product has a specific field to cover. For our Secfix agent we talk a lot with ISO 27001 experts and auditors.

Creating a great user experience starts with building a great product. Keep your users in mind throughout the entire process, from research to development to launch. By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating a successful startup.

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Step two: Test and learn from your users

Now that you have your first version of the product (this can be applied for just a part of the product or a single feature), it's time to get feedback from real users. This will help you understand what people think about your product, and how you can improve it.

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There are a few ways to get user feedback:

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1. User testing: This is where you give people tasks to complete using your product, and then observe them to see how they interact with it. This can be done in person or online.

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2. Analytics: Look at how people are using your product, what features they're using (or not using), and what areas are causing them problems.

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3. Customer support: See what kind of issues people are having with your product, and how they're trying to solve them.

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4. User surveys: Ask people directly about their experience with your product, what they like and don't like, and what they'd like to see improved.

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Once you've gathered some feedback from users, it's time to start making changes to your product based on what you've learned. Test out different versions of the product with different groups of users to see which changes are most successful in improving the user experience.

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Step three: Continuously iterate until you get it right

The third step in the design process is to continuously iterate until you get it right. This means that you should keep making changes and improvements to your design until you are happy with the results. It is important to keep in mind that your users’ needs may change over time, so you should always be open to making changes to your design and come back to improve features you've already launched.

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Step four: Ask for feedback whenever possible

Feedback is essential for any designer, whether you’re just starting out or have been in the industry for years. Asking for feedback can help you improve your design process and make better decisions about your work.

When you’re starting a new project, it’s important to get feedback from as many people as possible. Ask your friends, family, and co-workers what they think of your designs. If you can, find someone who is in your target market and get their opinion. The more feedback you can gather, the better.

Once you’ve started to get some feedback, take some time to evaluate it. Not all feedback will be useful, but try to identify any common themes that come up. If multiple people are telling you the same thing, it’s likely that there’s something you need to change.

Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback even after your project is done. Show your work to as many people as possible and see what they think. You may be surprised by what you learn. Keep in mind though, that the feedback might get very subjective, don't pay too much attention to the colours of the buttons, try to prioritise usability issues. 

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Step five: Be scrappy, don't be afraid to experiment

Startups are all about being scrappy and experimenting. Don't be afraid to try new things or to fail. The key is to learn from your mistakes and to keep moving forward.

The design process is no different. It's important to experiment and to test out new ideas. But, you also need to be willing to scrap what isn't working and start over again. Don't get into a trap many designers do – don't fall in love with your ideas, remember that you have to drop them anytime during the design process if needed. It can be tempting to want to stick with the first idea that you have. But, it's often better to explore a few different options before settling on a final design.

Don't be afraid to ask for help from others either. Collaboration can help you come up with some great ideas that you might not have thought of on your own. At Secfix we try to engage the team with the design process as well – we run the design and ideation sessions with our engineers, customer success, marketing and others. You won't believe how many insights can come from these meetings. 

So, go forth and experiment! Try out new things and see what works best for your startup. And, most importantly, don't be afraid to fail.

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Conclusion

By following the tips in this guide, you can create a design process that will help your startup boost user experience. Remember to keep your user's needs at the forefront of every decision, and don't be afraid to get creative with your solutions. With a little hard work and dedication, you can create a user experience that is truly exceptional.

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